New Delhi, November 29, 2024: India is aiming to eradicate foot and mouth disease in its livestock by 2030 in order to increase milk production and dairy exports, said Union minister of animal husbandry and dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Tuesday.
India is the largest milk producer in the world accounting for a fourth of total production, but its productivity remains lower than the world average as the country continues to fight foot and mouth disease.
The average yield in 2023-24 was 8.12 kg per day per exotic or crossbred animal and 4.01 kg per day per indigenous animal, according to data released by the ministry on Tuesday.
Average annual productivity of cattle in India during 2019-20 was 1,777 kg per animal per year against the world average of 2,699 kg per animal per year.
Drag on exports
“At present, India could exploit artificial insemination only by 35% against the developed nations’ 100%. We are aiming to increase it to at least 70%. Despite being the top milk producer in the world, we are unable to export milk and dairy products. The reason behind this is FMD (foot and mouth disease) in livestock. We are vaccinating them, and we aim to control FMD by 2025 and the country becomes FMD-free by 2030. The day we achieve it, we will be able to export milk and its products,” Singh said at an event organised by the ministry on National Milk Day.
